Sworn to Protect My Wanted Mate

It was a dark and chilly night in Sannaville and Maris was asleep, enjoying the cold breeze that caressed her skin from her wide open windows.

As if summoned by some unknown force, her eyes snapped open and she sat up like a dead man with red wavy hair falling down her back. Without blinking, she kicked off her blue Hermes duvet and got to her feet.

There the disembodied sound was, it sounded like chimes and many women singing 'ah' in one key. It called her and her feet moved on their own accord as if she had no control over them. Actually, she didn't because she was somewhat asleep.

"Into the forest... Into the forest." Soprano voices whispered in her head and she followed them to her wide open window.

Maris tried to move, but the window was in her way. She climbed up the window and the breeze blew her hair in different directions.

She jumped down barefooted, but couldn't feel anything because she was hypnotized by whatever had the voices in her head.

"Forest... Forest child..." Many voices chanted in her head, bewitching her even more.

She walked straight without moving a muscle in her face and got lost in the evergreen forest with tall scary trees. Birds flew from one tree to the other and the place was only illuminated by the ever shining full moon.

Maris walked deeper into the forest in her hello Kitty blue pajamas, numb to the sticks she had trampled on.

"To the left our child," A voice uttered and the other voices argued with her loud and angry.

"Not left, that'll be too long." A calm and quiet voice objected. "Right, child."

Maris took a step forward to the right, but got confused once again by the voices having an argument in her head.

"Fine!" A different voice yelled, a voice that sounded like that of a whistle. "She can take the right."

Maris took the right and stopped again when she had to wait for the voices to say left or right.

"Right." They sang in one tone.

Just as Maris was about to take the right, the smoke from a burning bush rode the air into her nose. She coughed and was suddenly distracted. With her nose high, she followed the smoke of the bush that was ablaze.

"No, you dumb child!" The voices chanted angrily. "Follow the right!"

Maris' subconscious state or should I say hypnotized state didn't heed to the warnings. She went deeper into forest, following the flames and howling of wolves.

The owls hooted and turned their heads in three sixty as she walked passed them. Their eyes opened and closed weirdly with more hooting.

"It's your fault, if you hadn't told the child to follow the right she wouldn't have perceived the smoke." A voice argued.

They continued with their arguments and insults until they had face palmed and agreed for fate to take it's cause.

Instantly, Maris' leg got stuck in a hole and she wiggled like a zombie, trying to free herself from the clutches of the hole–but it was an epic fail. The hole widened and sucked her in.

She rolled down the hole and banged her head on a tree. Pain spider webbed her entire head and shot down her ears.

"Ouch!" She winced, nursing her bruised head.

Maris peeled her eyes open and beheld a strange dark forest with trees unusually tall. She blinked owlishly and slapped her cheeks numerous times.

"Wake up, Maris." She slapped herself harder and it stung.

The moment she realized it was real, her heart skipped a beat and beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but was instantly dried off by the harsh wind. It huffed and puffed at her, dust making it's way into her eyes.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her palm and blinked rapidly before getting to her feet. There was a bush ablaze and she followed the light.

Her eyes widened and her jaw slacked when she beheld the disturbing images of naked men. Quickly, she hid behind a tree and felt the pain of the thing she had trampled on.

Taking a peek from behind the tree, they stood in a circle and chanted all sort of things. There was something in their middle, but it was very hard to see. Was that a human on the floor?

Abruptly, a black hole opened and a very handsome man with a chiseled jaw jumped out of the hole. His chest was broad and his stomach, adorned with abs. His lips were full and pink and she resisted the urge to look below his waist.

"Ilam, illam, we use thee as the entity!" They all raised their hands to the sky.

Instantly, something evaporated from the ground in form of smoke and formed a small cloud just a meter above their heads.

"Sweet." Maris muttered, pulling out her phone and tapping on the camera icon.

She tapped on the middle button, trying to be quiet, but the loud sound and flashlight of her phone made her presence which was once oblivious, known to the men.

"Shit!" She cursed and dug her phone into her pajamas pocket.

Their heads snapped to her direction and she hid behind the tree.

"Who was that?" The man who jumped out of the hole asked, voice harsh and tight, but raspy and drip worthy. "Isn't this supposed to be a sacred place?"

"Who dares to enter the sacred forest of azelbub?!" Another man roared, voice sounding like thunder.

Hastily, Maris turned on her heels and pivoted from behind the tree. Heart threatening to burst out of her rib cage. Her grey eyes widened with a pulse that could be heard by the men. Just as she was running, the smoke rushed into her nostrils and she sneezed.

"I can smell it, it's a she!" A man thundered. "Get her!"

With ragged breathing, Maris ran with a thumping heart as so many thoughts whirled in her head.

"Wake up if it's a dream." She cried, clueless about the routes she was taking.

Suddenly, something huge and hairy grabbed her from no where and shoved her into a tight space. This time, her heart had already leaped out of her throat.

Just when she was about to scream, the warm hands of a boy with hair as black as ebony clasped her mouth and held an index finger to his mouth.

"Ssh." He hushed her and she nodded, basking in the beauty of his piercing blue eyes.

Maris was in a deep slumber on her average sized bed as the sun smiled on planet Earth. Her face was covered in sweat and her sheets were rumpled.

She struggled on the bed like she was fighting. Her head moved from left to right, hinting at a bad dream.

Maris stood in the middle of some naked men with the body of half a human and half a wolf beside her. She was confused. Was she still in a nightmare? Hadn't she been saved by some blue eyed god?

"Stop!" She screamed as two men clutched both her wrist and forcefully laid her on a wooden table. "Help me!"

Abruptly, she inhaled a puff of smoke. It filled her lungs and made her cough. She opened her mouth to suck in a deep breath, but was stabbed in the gut by an unknown force–she screamed.

That was all she needed to wake up.

Maris sat up, breathing heavily and scanning the entire room. The moment she realized it was a bad dream, she heaved a sigh of relief and slumped back on the bed with both her eyes shut. She reached up a hand to her forehead and massaged her temples.

Maris pinched the bridge of her nose and made a mental note to change her cotton bed spread to something lighter. She could feel just how soaked in sweat her bed spread was beneath her back.

The screen of the Samsung Galaxy beside her pillow lit up and began to ring–it was her secretary. As soon as her eyes caught the caller ID, she groaned before taking the call.

"Morning, Tracy." She answered, feeling a little sore in the jaw.

"Ma'am, you have two clients waiting for you." She announced then reduced the volume of her voice. "One seems to be going bananas."

"I'll be there in a minute."

With that, the call ended and Maris groaned. She laid on her stomach and screamed into her pillow. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her head and she sat up, reaching up a hand to nurse the place.

A frown creased her brows the moment her eyes caught something else. It was a red bruise on her wrist, appearing like she had been clutched roughly–she rubbed on it and frowned deeper, trying to figure out what it was that was on her wrist.

After much thought and racking of her brain, she shrugged the worry off and jumped out of her bed to get ready for work.

She walked passed her mirror with a grey towel secured around her chest and instantly reversed to take a gander at her butt.

"Oh." She pushed out her butt and struck a pose for an invisible camera. "They are finally growing." She referred to her butt cheeks and rushed into the bathroom.

Maris turned off the shower and took a step forward, but something happened. She almost slipped, but she was lucky enough to have gripped the necklace she hung around the shower head.

"Darn it!" She swore out loud when she still landed on her butt with a spoilt necklace.

She got to her feet and rinsed her legs once again before stretching and walking out of the bathroom, making a mental note to get a less slippery slippers. She felt funny in her stomach, like some entity was living in it. Perhaps, her period was on it's way.

Maris drove out in a portable Honda and halted in front of the building she called a working place.

Aura, check. Her subconscious listed as she raised her head high and bounced in her heels.

Coffee, check.

She grabbed a hot cup of coffee and tapped her fingers on it for a bit, waiting for it to cool off.

"You said I have a two clients?" She asked the moment she approached her secretary.

"Yes, ma'am. One already left because he was tired of waiting." The brunette spoke with her eyes glued to the record she was going through. "Oh, he didn't leave a note or"

"Hold on." Maris cut her short, by holding a hand up to her face and rushing over to the balcony rail to see who the person walking passed the building was.

A line formed above her eye brows. How did she know someone was walking passed her building?

She squinted her eyes at his back and tried to make out who he was, but didn't get any luck so she just rested her elbows on the rail instead and stared at her cup of coffee.

Instantly, he stopped and her heart picked up it's pace in anticipation to see the face of who had captured her spirit in some type of way or was she just exaggerating?

He spun slowly and their eyes locked. She felt as if he could see through her soul and she instantly became weak.

What's happening?

Her subconscious asked when she found it difficult to tear the eye contact. His nose and lips were covered under a handkerchief and she recognized the pearls he possessed–his eyes.

They mirrored the blue nail polish she had on. He turned and walked away and she was released from whatever paralysis she was having.

She heaved a sigh of relief and clutched her chest. She solely wondered if she was safe.

"Ma'am?" A soft hand gripped her shoulder and she jerked with a small scream. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"It's fine." Maris nodded and urged her to say what she had tapped her for.

"The other client is waiting."

Maris adjusted her chiffon top and nodded. "Wait, who's that?"

She pointed her index finger at the spot she had seen a familiar set of blue eyes, but it was empty.

"Who?" Betty asked and Maris shockingly folded her palm on her chest.

"He was right there..." She trailed off, then raised the cup to sip from it. "Ouch!"

She jolted and quickly removed the cup from her mouth when it had burnt her tongue and lips.

There goes my taste buds!

Azelbub

Thunder claps filled the entire forest that was supposed to be the sacred place of the dark king, azelbub or the devil, the name people were familiar with.

A black hole opened and men jumped out of it, naked once again, but this time infuriated.

The last person jumped out and they bowed down to him. His brows were furrowed and his face mirrored disgust. Bushy eyebrows sat gracefully above big hazel eyes. His lips were as red as blood and hair as black as ebony.

He stomped to the middle and tightened his dental bone.

"Whose fault was it?!" He roared and they trembled, raising their heads to view their master. "Answer me!"

"Wewe have nono idea, sir." A man who appeared to be in his early thirties stammered.

"Now our ritual has been spoilt and my butt is out there!" He bellowed. "The world shouldn't be aware of this."

"Calm down, sir. What's the fuss all about when"

"Silence!" Azelbub's fingers turned to talons and he pointed it towards who had spoken.

The man who could pass for a giant didn't get to finish his sentence because azelbub stroke him with a lightening bolt. He fell on the ground and the earth shook.

"Is there anyone that wants to tell me to calm down again?" He asked, blowing off invisible dust from his fingers and they all shook their heads in dismay. "Good."

He held his hand behind him and rocked back and forth on his heels. "Where's the wolf man and what we've been preserving in him?"

"I'm afraid he died." A man with white beards spoke, almost too bold.

"What?" Azelbub's anger boiled in his veins. "And the substance?"

He went closer to the man and squinted his eyes at him, anger flaring out of his nose.

"I'm afraid it merged with"

"Damn you!" Azelbub's hand changed into a sword with which he used to stab the man in the gut. Blood gushed down the man's mouth and Azelbub smiled in satisfaction.The sword transformed back into his hand and he licked the blood off his fingers. "Who's next?"

There was no answer.

The demon placed his thumb and index finger into his mouth and whistled. Two beasts–manticores with the head of a human, body of a lion and tail of a scorpion sped out of an even darker part of the forest and immediately, one of the beast bit the head of the man wolf, while the other bit the legs and they tore him into half. They ate him effortlessly, breaking every bone hungrily.

"Yes!" The devil laughed with his hands in the air. "She needs to be found!"

"That means one of us would have to go down to the mortal world and we can't." A short man stated and the devil snapped his head to his direction. The man jerked, afraid of what would become of him if Azelbub's wrath came upon him.

"True." He stroked his chin and gave it a long thought before a devilish grin crawled up his face. "But I hate facts, so we'd have to make that a lie."

"How?" One of them asked.

The devil took in the features of the man that spoke and he wrinkled his face.

"Didn't I tell you not to show up here naked?" His eye brows furrowed. "Naked you disgusts me."

He snapped his fingers and the man was covered in a black attire.

"What's the plan, master?" They chorused, their curiosity bubbling.

"Dracula, I summon you to the sacred place and meeting of Azelbub!" The devil raised his hands to the sky and lightening illuminated the place, making the toothy grin he had on visible before it became dark again.

The wind blew harshly and the sky which had a pale crescent moon that mirrored a talon was now covered by a dark angry cloud. Suddenly, a man dropped out of the sky with his head bowed and after five seconds, he stood up with a vicious grin.

"Hello..." He drawled then shoved his hands into the pocket of his black leather garment. "–best friend."

The members looked back and forth at the devil and Dracula in anticipation of what was going to happen next.

"Spare me the fake pleasantries."

"Oh, really?" His grey eyes glittered with mischief. "But you summoned me and we're still best friends aren't we?"

"After what you did?" The devil's nose flared with anger as he clenched his fists. "Hell, no."

"But you punished me, isn't that enough to prove my newly found loyalty?." Dracula asked, puckering his forehead. "I'm a changed person, Azel."

The devil stared longly at his supposed best friend. "You would have been turned into ashes, but you're still useful and I need your help."

"The devil... Needs my help?" Dracula laughed. "And why should I help you?"

"Because if you don't, we'll have no illam, no ritual, no forgiveness from me, no lifting of the curse and you'd miss the opportunity of gaining the powers I am planning to bestow on you."

"I can't go down to the world, you know"

"I'll give you powers that'll sustain you. You'd feed on human blood to stay alive, you'd be fast, strong and you'd never die!" The devil exclaimed.

Dracula poked a finger in his ear and winced. "What was the shouting for and you already made me a demon, I'm alive forever."

"Have I been speaking some foreign language? I said the ritual wasn't successful and we have to find someone... She has what we need and she also has my nudes." The devil stated with a straight face.

"What are the downsides of this power and what are the weaknesses?"

"Sun." Answered the devil before poking at his wrist with a finger and letting his blood drip into a cup. "I already cursed you not to be able to walk under the sun because of your betrayal... You'd live with it and so would your followers."

Dracula stepped forward and gulped down the concoction that was made by the devil and he clutched his stomach, his eyes rolled skyward.

"Yes!" The devil cackled. "It's working."

Dracula fell on the ground and shivered before letting out a loud shout that shook the earth. A new demon was born!

"All hail Azelbub!" They chanted, bowing down to the master.

"Jonathan!" The devil exclaimed and a young man answered. "Step into the middle."

The man did as he was told and before any one could say jack, Dracula launched at him and sent them to the ground. Dracula's fangs elongated and his skin became white. Instantly, he dug his head into Jonathan's neck and bit him.

A deafening shout flew out of Jonathan's mouth and the birds flew out of their trees. The manticores roared and a windy storm began.

Dracula sucked the blood out of Jonathan and when he was done, he got to his feet and blood was dripping down his fangs. He wiped his mouth with the back of his palm and gazed upon the devil.

"What am I now?" Dracula asked, voice as scary as the dead of the night.

Manticores devoured Jonathan. Their sharp edged teeth chewed on his limbs, and bones.

"A vampire." The devil grinned wickedly.

Maris

"Do you think I should do it?" The ginger head boy asked, twirling a basketball on his finger with his eyes glued to Maris who he had a long time crush on.

"What?" Maris cocked up both her brows with confusion written all over her face. She hadn't been listening to what he was saying. "Yeah. I mean, sure."

She nodded her head without knowing what he had asked and picked up her coffee to sip from it, but hesitated just in case it was hot. Slowly, she kissed the coffee cup and pushed her head back. The liquid was warm and it covered her taste buds like a blanket.

"Okay, thank you very much." His blue eyes sparkled with a small smile playing at the corners of his lips and she returned it.

She had been pondering on who the blue eyed god was. Why did he stare at her with a gaze that never faltered? She could no longer think straight as all her thoughts were consumed by him.

Her stomach rumbled and she placed a palm on it, rubbing it lightly.

"So... Last week," the kid who wasn't more than the age of eighteen spoke out and Maris blinked rapidly, trying to focus on him. "I had hit a stray dog with my bike."

"Mmhm," Maris hummed, nodding for him to continue.

"So I got down to check on it, but something drastic happened." He winced as the memory flashed fresh in front of him. Maris nodded urging him to speak further. "It bit me."

Maris' eyes widened and she plastered both her elbows on the table before clasping her fingers with her mouth hung open.

"Where?" She stretched her neck to look at his hand. "Was it really bad?"

"It stung like hell, see." He rolled up his sleeve and waved his arm.

The bite marks were still visible and appeared like it was given to him just yesterday.

"My goodness," Maris said, holding her chest. "When did you say it bit you and did you treat it?"

"Last week and yes, I saw a doctor. I mean, it wasn't that bad because the pain stopped before I reached the hospital." He explained.

"Uhm..." Maris trailed off, trying to recall his name. "You're"

"Jeremy." The boy pulled down his sleeve and scratched his hair. "I also feel some kind of way and it's really weird... That's why I'm here to talk."

"What type of way, Jeremy?"

"Like a"

He hesitated and tilted his head to the side and squinted his eyes at Maris.

"Are you okay?" He questioned, a line forming above his brows. "Miss Maris?"

"What do you mean?" Maris asked. "Is something wrong with my face?"

She picked up a hand mirror and screamed once she made eye contact with her reflection.

"What the hell?!" She got to her feet, refusing to believe the unusually red eyes belonged to her.

The almond shaped jewels were bloodshot and tears welled up in them. Strange.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" The kid asked and she glared at him for a minute before returning her gaze to the mirror.

Jeremy got to his feet and a book about lycanthropy fell from his laps. Just as he bent to pick it up, Maris gasped when her eyes sparked and the mirror slipped from her hand the moment the bruise around her wrist stung.

The pain shot up to her chest and she clutched it to stop her heart from going wild.

"Miss Maris?" He called out to his counselor who was having a hard time to breathe.

Suddenly, she pivoted on her heels and ran out of the office. Her thoughts were all over the place as she ran with a blurry vision.

"Ouch!" She yelped when she bumped into the chest of someone–the opposite gender because the chest was solid Rock and–

Comforting.

Her subconscious whispered and she zapped out of her trance, blinking away the tears. The strange human wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her to his body.

His smell intoxicated her and her eyes closed on their own accord. Her stomach felt sick the moment he tightened his grip. Abruptly, her eyes snapped open when the voices in her head yelled her name.

"What the hell is this?" She spat, trying to push him off of her, but he was too strong.

"Stay calm, it's for your own good." His voice sent tingles down her spine.

Just when she was about to trust the stranger and enjoy the moment, her stomach churned and a lump sat in her throat.

"Oh!" She groaned and tried to push him away, but there was no luck. In one insane second, she gagged on nothing in particular and in no time, his shirt was covered with her smelly vomit.

He pushed her away from his body and she used it as an opportunity to take in his features. She jerked when she had seen it was the guy from this morning, but she still couldn't see his face because of the handkerchief covering it.

Immediately, she ran into her car and just when she was about to move the gear stick, it broke and frustration embraced her.

"Ah!" She groaned and turned the ignition, but there wasn't any luck there either because it broke into half.

More frustration.

"Ah!" Maris screamed when she heard the sound of someone knocking on her window like it was on her head instead.

She spun and locked gazes with the same boy and narrowed her eyes into crinkled slits.

"What do you want from me?!" Maris fumed, anger spider webbing her heart.

"I saw you needed help and"

Blue eyes didn't get to finish his sentence because Maris pushed the door open with all her might and stepped out of the car, anger flaring out of her nose.

"Stay away from me" she pointed a finger at him and halted in her tracks, scanning him from head to toe and having an instant distaste for his shoes. "What ever your name is, stay away from me!"

She hissed and turned to walk away with her nose in the air.

"You keep making bad things to happen to me!" She screamed and glanced over her shoulder.

Maris strolled into a bar and sat down on one of the stools, looking passed the bar man and scanning the drinks that were stacked up on the shelves.

She wasn't exactly the most sane person in the world, she hadn't been getting any sleep as she constantly heard voices whispering her name.

She even stuffed her ears with ear plugs and still heard those voices loud and clear in her head.

"One dark and stormy, please." Maris ordered, staring owlishly at the two men beside her who looked like they were about to throw blows.

"How dare you shove my shoulder and look me in the face to say you slept with my girlfriend?" A huge biker man growled and veins popped out on the side of his head.

"She came to me. After all, I lasted more than five minutes, unlike you." The second man with a foul smell so strong that it made goosebumps crawl on Maris' arm orated.

"That's it!" The biker man jumped and his fist made contact with foul smell's face.

Maris sighed and rolled her eyes before climbing the bar table.

"Guys!" She yelled, but couldn't get their attention. "Guys!"

They all halted in their tracks with their mouths hung open. Maris herself was surprised because she couldn't believe that the voice was from her.

"Em..." She cleared her throat and wore a confident look. "Calm down guys. What's the fuss all about?"

Her voice melted their hearts and in no time, they were under her spell.

Dracula

"Yes..." Dracula drawled, staring lustfully at a caramel skinned lady with curly brown hair.

He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, rubbing his fingers together with a wicked grin etched to his face. He leaned on a tree and rested the back of his head on it with his eyes shut as he anticipated the taste of her blood.

Suddenly, he peeked from behind the tree, watching as she trashed some dirt in the waste bin of the diner she worked in. Her thighs were thick and alluring, but he held himself.

The mysterious woman walked back into the building and out, with a coat covering her body.

Just as she walked away from the building and into the road, Dracula glanced from left to right before shoving his hands into his black coat.

"Hi." He crept up on the girl and she jolted then spun to take in his features. "How are you, beautiful?"

She looked at him with disgust oozing out of her skin as she had thought he was one of those useless men that wanted nothing more than to get in between her legs.

"Uhm, just fine. Thanks." She dug her hands into her pocket and walked away from him as fast as she could.

"Slow down..." He slurred like the silver tongued devil he was, trailing up behind her.

Dracula hurriedly held her waist, faster than any normal human should have been.

"Get away from me, you disgusting piece of shit!" She snapped, her green eyes shining under the pale moon.

Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead and Dracula could feel just how her body vibrated from fear.

"Don't rape me." She pleaded once she saw they were both alone on the lonely street.

"Oh, I wouldn't rape you..." A weird smile played at the corners of his lips. "I'd give you something more enjoyable and powerful!"

As a result of struggling, her coat went down a little, exposing some skin of her neck. She managed to get Dracula to leave her waist alone, but he clutched her wrist instead and once he saw her skin, his fangs elongated and he hissed like a serpent.

"Ah!" She screamed, terror stricken as she tried to wiggle out of his hold.

Quickly, before she could scream for her, he bit a spot on her neck and sucked a little blood out of it.

Dracula had finally gotten his first vampire follower and mortal mistress.

"Soon, we'd multiply and find the girl in no time." He licked the stain of blood from her neck and laughed a wicked one.

Dracula had met one of the dogman's the previous day and asked for their help in the search of the one who had interrupted their ritual and ran with the entity.

It was sunny and the clouds were like white cotton candies in the sky, meaning Dracula would fry to death if he had dared to step foot out.

"Darn you, Azel!" He cursed and watched as the dogman rushed out of his house, stopping every now and then to sniff the ground.

Three hours gone and the dogman returned with his tongue hanging out and his eyes as red as a Ruby gemstone.

"I found something." He spoke, transforming back into a man with black hair and no clothes. "Hop on my back."

"I can fly on my own."

"And get fried?" The dogman asked with a string of sarcasm in his voice. "Manticores would sure love a taste of your meat."

Dracula glared at him before hopping reluctantly on his back. "What guaranty do I have that hopping on your smelly back wouldn't get me fried?"

"We'd follow dark corners, dumb ass." He stated then began to run into the woods.

They arrived in front of a big building and the first thing that caught Dracula's eyes was a boy hugging a girl who he couldn't see what her face looked like.

Instantly, he puckered his forehead and wrinkled his nose.

"That's an alpha smell." He pointed out to dogman who was panting from running with a demon on his back. "I don't want to go near a werewolf in daylight... I don't want more troubles with them. It could lead to a serious fight because of the last wolf we abducted from their brotherhood and we don't want the humans to witness that."

"But I perceived something else. I think it's gone."

"There are wolves around and we can't afford to wage a war with them." He retreated. "Let's leave!"

Maris

Maris walked with a handful of groceries as she made her way out of the mall. She walked oddly towards her car because of the weird feeling that something malicious was watching her.

She moved faster, glancing over her shoulder every now and then with a thumping heart. She stopped to scan the environment and got a cold feet with the churning of her bowels. It also did not help that it was dark and silent.

The street light flickered and she gulped down a big ball of saliva before pulling out her keys. She tried inserting the keys, but couldn't because her hands were shaking.

Abruptly, a hand gripped her shoulder and she screamed her lungs out, sending the groceries to the floor.

"I didn't mean to scare you, miss Maris, but I'm here to tell you I'm very disappointment in you." Jeremy's mother scolded with both her hands akimbo. "What have you been advising my son to do?"

Maris bent to pick up her groceries and the gaze of Jeremy's mother followed her slim figure down.

"I don't understand, ma'am." Maris tucked strands of hair that were getting in her eyes behind her ear and looked up at the average height woman whose face was turning tomato red.

"How could you tell my son to drop out of school?" She furrowed her forehead and threw her hands in the air.

"What?" Maris got to her feet, confused. "I never told your son to drop out. We never talked about school. He only told me he was bitten by a dog last week."

"What?!" Jeremy's mother widened her eyes.

Maris explained to his mother and everything was ironed out. It turned out to be that he asked if he could drop out when Maris wasn't listening.

"Okay, bye." Maris waved at the woman and lingered her gaze on her big buttocks before the feeling of being watched over took her senses once again.

Her breathing hitched and her heart picked up it's pace as she thought of it being an obsessed stalker who might kill her at the ending.

Suddenly, a person ten times stronger than her grabbed and placed her on his back and sped off into the woods.

Wind slapped her face violently as he ran faster than light itself. Her arms unconsciously wrapped themselves around his neck and fear struck her so bad she felt paralyzed to the extent she couldn't scream.

"Put me down!" Maris exclaimed when she was free from the mini paralysis she was having with her hands still secured around the unknown person's neck. His smell was pretty familiar.

He didn't stop, he kept running and taking routes Maris wasn't familiar with. She could hardly keep her eyes open because the breeze filled her eyes and made them teary.

With a thumping heart, she yelled again, "Put me down!"

Suddenly, he stopped and released her legs, sending her to the ground on her buttocks. She winced, shutting her eyes tight.

"What the hell?" She tried to catch her breath with her back flat on the grass. "Who are you?"

There was no reply, but the sound of him breathing heavily made it's way to her ears and she raised her head up to look at the mysterious person.

"You!" Her eyebrows kissed each other in anger when she recognized him to be the boy who hugged her at her working place. "What the hell do you want from me?"

He was handsome. His brows were a little bit bushy, but he had a pointed nose that sat gracefully above Cupid bow lips.

She stood up and tightened her fists, wishing she could forget them on his eyes. She eyed him from head to toe and felt a pang of hatred in her heart for him.

"I need your cooperation, ma'am," He answered softly with a curt bow.

"I don't understand what is going on." She raked her fingers in her hair and took in a deep breath. "You kidnapped me from my car and expect me to cooperate?"

"You're in danger, Maris." He straightened the collar of his red check shirt.

"What in Sannaville are you yapp" she hesitated then a frown crawled upon her face. "How do you know my name is Maris?"

His eyes softened and she could have sworn she saw his cheeks heating up for a minute before he wore a flat look.

"That isn't important... You're in danger and"

"You're a stalker and you kidnapped me," she said through gritted teeth and drilled a hole into his forehead.

"Not exactly, but I'm serious about the danger... Would you just listen to me?" He raised his hands in the air.

"No!" She exclaimed and stomped her feet on the ground, close to a tree with her chest heaving.

The tree shook and the birds flew out from it. Apples fell from the tree.

"Ouch!" She held her head because an apple had made harsh contact with her head. "Did I do that?"

She directed her gaze to the boy who watched her in amazement.

"What did you do to me!" She screamed. "I'm very sure you're the reason my eyes sparked and this," she raised her fist to his face and pointed at the red bruise on it. "You also caused this."

"No, I didn't." His elf like ears moved up and down.

"Yes, you"

Maris didn't get to finish her sentence because a wolf howled and he glanced at the sky with worry lines forming on his forehead.

Maris crouched with a hand on her stomach when she felt an intense pain in it. She groaned and clutched her stomach the more, feeling like the blood running through her veins had been boiled.

"Oh, no. It's becoming strong." The boy muttered. "We need to get out of here, they are coming." He stated when another wolf howled.

"Who are they?" Maris managed to speak amidst the pain she was feeling.

"Just hop on my back."

"So you could kidnap me?" She stood upright with bug eyes. "No, thank you."

"We do not have much time, hop." He tapped on his back.

Maris folded her arms against her chest with an 'I don't care' face. "No."

"That's it." He growled and his fangs elongated, but he shielded them with his lips and marched towards her.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"This." He lifted her up from her knee and placed her on his shoulder, her head and limbs hanging down his body.

"Let me be!" She banged her fists on his back, but he was way stronger than her.

"Brace yourself." His voice sounded deeper than before.

"W"

He cut Maris short by running so fast, she was bopping up and down on his shoulders.

"...hy me!" She cried.

Something tugged the insides of her stomach and she peeled her eyes open. She found herself in a cave and on a mat made out of straw.

Her heart skipped a beat when the thought of being devoured by wolves filled her head and she turned to the right, only to bump into the chest of the guy that had abducted her.

He didn't have any shirt on and his long eye lashes hugged each other. She instantly became jealous.

How can a guy has longer lashes than me?

Her subconscious questioned and she rolled her eyes before concentrating on his face. His lips were alluring and they matched her pink nail polish. He breathed softly and a small smile graced his lips, which she couldn't help, but to mirror.

He was fast asleep and innocent looking like a baby. Her heart fluttered when his dimples were in sight.

She drifted her gaze to his chest and studied every mark and hair on it, wondering where he had gotten a particular scar on his shoulder. She was comfortable in his arms for some reasons.

Her eyes went higher again and her stomach tied itself into knots.

His eyes are beautiful when he's asleep. Wait, what?

"Staring must be your hobby."

She sat up immediately and her cheeks heated up when she realized he was awake. Her red hair covered her face and he sat up, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down." He tucked her hair behind her ear and it sent tingles down her arms and ankles. Weird.

"Why have I been abducted by you to live in this," she paused and looked around the cave. "This stinky cave."

"I haven't abducted you, Maris." He answered, his hands on her shoulder.

"Then what have you done?" She shoved his hand and got to her feet.

"Protecting that belongs to me." He replied and got to his feet.

"You're insane, how do I belong to you?" She questioned with disgust written all over her face.

"Consort is how." He moved closer to her and grabbed both her shoulders. "You have to trust me, Maris."

His voice was raspy and the way he called her name did something to her insides. She shoved the feeling off and replaced it with anger.

"What ever." She pushed him away and sat on the mat, pulling out her phone and going through her gallery.

She stumbled on the disturbing image of a naked man who appeared to be a Greek God. Her nose wrinkled when she looked below his waist.

Wait, so it wasn't a dream? Her subconscious asked and she gulped. Was she really in danger?

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Just stumbled on something disturbing." She reluctantly answered, her eyes never leaving the phone screen.

"Can I see?" He asked, extending his hand to him and she obliged.

"What, you have the devil's nudes?!"

"Devil's nudes?!" Maris' throat went dry and her heart picked up it's pace, followed by sweaty palms.

"You're in great danger, Maris."

Maris began to shiver internally when he had told her Dracula was after her for the devil's nudes and a certain entity that had gotten into her the night she took the picture.

"What am I going to do?" Her lips trembled and she held onto his arm.

"I'm going to protect you. It's a bit surprising you're still alive." He stated and she threw stare daggers at him. "My name is Logan by the way."

He stretched out his hand for a handshake, but Maris only gave him a long skeptical look.

"Logan?" She squinted her eyes when she heard whispers in her head. "Can you hear that?"

She looked around and Logan followed her gaze. "Hear what?"

"Those weird whispers." She poked her fingers into her ears and wiggled them.

"You're strange." He narrowed an eye at her and she stopped what she was doing to glare at him.

"Says the person that has been stalking me." Maris hissed and walked to the other side of the cave.

She held out her palms to the fire that was burning in their midst to keep her warm.

"What took you to their sacred place?" He questioned and she frowned at him.

"What sacred place?" She tilted her head to the right and gazed at the tall boy, still standing shirtless in front of her.

"Where you took the picture of his butt." He answered dryly.

"I have no idea." She stroked her chin.

They finally decided to continue their journey and he led her out of the cave. Just when they were few meters from the cave, they heard distant snapping of bushes and Logan pushed Maris behind him, trying to protect her from whatever it was.

He sniffed the air and his fangs shot out, his forehead wrinkling with low growls coming out of his mouth.

"What's that smell?" Maris asked, looking from behind Logan.

"Rogues." Dry toned Logan. "And werehyenas."

Maris clung on to his shirt as fear enveloped her. She regretted meeting him because he had done nothing, but to bring mischief into her life. They sounded closer and Logan's ears twitched before he spun to lock gazes with Maris.

"There's something that needs to be done, but I'm sorry for it's going to really hurt." He stated and moved closer to her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, a suspicious look on her face.

He didn't reply so she took a step back, her heart already picking it's pace.

"I'm sorry." He muttered then cupped her cheeks with affection and the softest eyes that he could muster. "I'll have to change you into one of us."

"Us who?" She shivered, paralyzed by his touch.

"Werewolves." He answered and she frowned before it turned to a smile that could not be contained.

"Aren't you just crazy?" She guffawed, pushing his hands off her cheeks and clutching her stomach. "Werewolves?"

A frown creased his brows and he held his hand behind his back, picking a little offense in the way she laughed.

"Do you take me for a fool?" She questioned, pointing at her chest. "From the devil is after to werewolves... Like what else would you say exists, dogmen?"

"Yes, they exist." He answered and she laughed.

Maris thought everything was ridiculous so she turned to walk away, but Logan gripped her wrist and drew her to his body. Their lips were a whisper away and it made Maris to feel sick in the gut, but in a good way.

His breath fanned her face and she heaved, boobs plastered to his chest that she could feel his heart beat. She gazed down at his lips and craved them like they were her life line.

Suddenly, he pulled her closer and leaned in. She closed her eyes shut, anticipating the feel of his plump lips on hers, but something else happened. Maris felt a sharp pain on the side of her neck, causing her to snap her eyes open immediately.

She screamed, feeling the pain shooting down her entire body as he sank his canines deep into her skin. Her palms were flat on his chest as she tried to push him away, but he was strong.

Her eyes rolled skyward and her body became limp like all the energy in her had been sucked out.

Just when he pulled out his mouth, she fell to the ground with a blurry vision.

"I'm sorry, but I had to so you can be able to protect yourself... The rogues are coming." He growled and Maris got to her feet, feeling dizzy.

"What did you do to me and what are you?"

"A werewolf, an alpha to be precised." He answered, interlocking fingers with her as they proceeded into the forest.

"Where" Maris got cut off by the loud growling of wolves. Brown and dirty werewolves with an unpleasant smell encircled Maris and Logan. "Oh, no."

Logan pushed her behind him and snarled, his hand secured on her back.

Logan transformed into a big white wolf and one of the rogue's launched at him, sending him to the ground. Fear had a tight grip on Maris as she watched them battle on the ground. Logan bit the neck of the wolf and it yelped.

Maris turned and almost peed on her body when she saw one of the wolves snarling at her. It jumped in an attempt to bite Maris, but Logan struck at the wolf.

Out of no where, Maris confidence bar increased to a hundred percent and she stood, rolling her fist and clenching her jaw.

Instantly, she put her fingers in her mouth and whistled so loud it got the attention of all the wolves.

"Stop fighting at once!" Her voice sounded like a whistle and it made the wolves to fall and whimper. "Get up!"

They stood up like they were her stringed puppets.

Her face was flat and her eyes were a deep shade of grey.

"Rogues, fight till you kill yourselves." She ordered through gritted teeth.